Perry is one of the few, and perhaps the only popular mystery writer who is also a convicted murderess - as a youth she participated in the murder of the mother of a childhood friend, an event dramatised by Peter Jackson in his film
Heavenly Creatures. After her release from prison she changed her name and left New Zealand. The connection between Perry the author and Juliet Hulme was not made by the public for many years (her publishers obviously displaying more tact than we are capable of), she was not even aware a film based on her life was being made until it was released, and Perry has made it clear that she wishes to put that part of her life behind her.
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